After shoe-hit bid, attacks on CJI Gavai continue online; demand for action on lawyer Rakesh Kishor grows louder

AFter 71-year-old attorney Rakesh Kishore tried to assail the Chief justness BR Gavai by throwing a shoe at him in the sublime margaret court, caste-coded social-media attacks continue against the country's judicial head, even as calls grow for actions against the attacker.Police in Punjab filed multiple FIRs over some social media posts by late Wednesday, October 8, while political leaders and activists continued to seek action against from the central government and against Rakesh Kishore too.On social media, AI used to caste abuseAn AI-generated video showing the CJI with a blue face and an earthen pot hanging around his neck — depicting an age-old casteist practice whereby Dalits were not meant to let their spit touch the ground — emerged as a prime example of the continuing abuse.Right-wing YouTubers and influencers like Ajeet Bharti, with lakhs of followers, also made more posts blaming the CJI and praising the attacker, who has been unapologetic even after Noida Police questioned him.The blue-face video was posted just about four hours after the lawyer's shoe-hurling attempt was reported on October 6, and continued to be online from the X account by the name Kikki Singh (@singh_kikki) as of 8 pm on October 8. It had been re-shared over 2,300 times, liked over 5,000 times, and seen by nearly 800,000 people by that time.‘Why no action by police on attacker?’Prime Minister Narendra spoke to the CJI and condemned the incident as one that “angered every Indian”. But multiple leaders from opposition parties questioned why police did not act on their own even when the CJI chose not to press chargesRakesh Kishore has since been at home, giving interviews justifying his act. He has cited “insult to Hinduism” as his main reason, referring to the CJI's remarks during a recent case hearing about a Hindu idol. The CJI had already clarified he did not mean any disrespect, and has said social media kicked up a row.AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal — whose party is in power in Punjab where FIRs have now been registered over social media abuse — posted on X that while Justice Gavai showed “greatness” in not wanting a case against Rakesh Kishore, the shoe-hurling “sent a chilling message to the entire judiciary”.“If anyone can get away with throwing shoe at CJI, then what to talk of other judges. Are other judges safe?” his post read.He added, “The manner in which Justice Gavai is being mocked and threatened on social media with impunity by their supporters, this seems to be a pre planned and systematic attempt to browbeat and force entire judiciary into submission,” not explaining what he meant by “their” supporters.He urged the judiciary to take action. “The man who attempted to throw the shoe and those threatening and mocking CJI MUST be given exemplary punishment so that noone in future dares to mess with judiciary,” he further posted.